"Somethings not right here" Luna whined in agreement as Sophie approached the hat shop. Everyone was gone and having a good time in the town square, yet the door to the shop was open. Sophie knowing for sure that she locked the door behind her when she left, entered the shop cautiously. Nothing was missing, everything was where she left it, what was going on here Sophie couldn't figure out. Then... CRASH.. the door slammed shut.
"Well now, who do we have here?" said a cold, cruel, smooth voice that seemed out of nowhere. Sophie looked and saw a tall, portly woman came out of the shadows followed by two human like things that looked like they were made out of sludge.
"I don't know who you are madame but the shop is close, you need to leave" Sophie said quite coldly. She didn't like this woman, to anyone else she would look pretty with the exception of her being fat. Big lips, a ton of make up plastered on her face, expensive clothes including an over decorated hat. What made Sophie really not like her was her eyes, they were cold and soulless like her voice which had started to speak again.
"You have a lot of pluck, talking to the Witch of the Wastes like that" the witch smirked.
"The Witch of the Waste" Sophie shuddered as she gazed at the evil, selfish monster before her. Luna growled protectively from her place on Sophie's shoulder.
"You should be more careful with who you are seen with. That wizard has many enemies that would love to do him harm, any way they can" chuckled the witch.
That was enough for Sophie, without a second thought she sent everything in the room flying towards the witch and her henchmen. While the now surprised witch was distracted, Sophie blew the door off its hinges and with Luna still clinging onto her shoulder took off like a bullet from a gun clear out of town into the countryside.
"It's safe to say that we're not going home anytime soon Luna. It's too dangerous with that horrid thing looking for us." Luna did her best to comfort Sophie as the slowed to a walk when they were sure that they not being followed, rubbing her head against her and purring. "I know, as long as we have each other we will be alright. But we won't even be able to go to our lake anymore it's too close to town. The witch would find us to easily." A sad look entered Sophie's eyes as she thought of her secret place. A world all her own that held so many memories of her childhood.
Luna mewed in agreement but did her best to cheer her up by purring and licking her cheek.
" Hey that tickles you silly kitty" laughed Sophie petting Luna's head away from her cheek. With her spirits raised Sophie and Luna continued on there way.
The next morning Sophie and Luna found themselves far beyond civilization, traveling in the vast countryside leaving through the wasteland that surrounded the town. Other than the chance of running into a witch or something the meadows and hillsides were actually very lovely and peaceful. There were other surprises too.
Luna was having a grand time chasing butterflies and trying to catch some field mice that scurried around the trail, with Sophie watching her in amusement and laughing all the while.
They weren't sure exactly where the where when it began to get dark again, but the two of them knew they had to find someplace to spend the night. Even if it was just under a tree, IF they could find one on the wide flat terrain.
" Oh Luna there must be someplace where we can stay the night. Maybe if we just...AAHHHHHHH."
"MEEEOOOW!"
At that moment a huge object of metal and gears moved over them. Taking cover against the ground Sophie held Luna close trying not to get squished by the giant colossus. When she finally looked up after it passed, it was if she was struck down!
"That's Howl's Moving Castle!" she gasped.
The castle didn't really look like any castle that she has ever seen or heard of, it looked like a strange fish with legs. 'How is that thing able to move?' Luna's thoughts were the same as she tilted her head looking curiously at the strange metal fish with legs.
"Well what you think Luna? Is sneaking in there a better option than sleeping out?"
The crack of thunder rumbling in the distanced answered that question for her. As the two looked between the flash of lighting and the walking fish. They made their decision, Sophie picked up Luna and sped across the dust to catch up with the castle.
Once they caught up with the thing, Sophie tried the door she found near the bottom of it. It was unlocked.
"Not very big on locking his door is he? Probably doesn't think anyone is going to try to rob him out here." Luna mewed in agreement as Sophie opened the door all the way and entered the castle.
"Luckily for this Howl, we aren't robbers!" On that note Sophie closed the door and began to explore the dreadful and terrifying wizard Howl's Castle.
Her first thought of the castle was 'EEEEWWWW' as she walked into a curtain of cobwebs. The whole place was filthy! A large layer of dust covered everything. Old pieces of mold furniture was covered in spoil food, open books, and spilled pots of ink. The kitchen if one could call it a kitchen was practically nothing more than a mound of dirty dishes. The places that didn't have junk scattered about were crawling with all kinds of bugs. Even the fireplace looked like filth, with piles of ash all around it and the whole place smelled strongly of decay. The only thing that looked even remotely clean was a single chair place in front of the fireplace.
'How can someone possibly live like this! Its absolutely terrible!' Sophie could barely take a breath without wanting to gag.
Luna wanted to make a run for the door, but then she would have to touch the floor and that was something she really didn't want to do.
Making her way to the chair, trying to touch as little as possible, Sophie looked for any sign of human life. There wasn't any. Looking at the small fire nestled in the ash, Sophie took the risk to use her powers to get it going again. Lifting the logs with her mind and placing them on the fire, she then used her pyrokinesis to try and give the fire a start.
Using her powers on a normal fire Sophie would have it dancing like a snake charmer with a cobra, but this fire wasn't normal. It has eyes!
"Would you look at that. We have a mermaid in the castle."
Sophie paralyzed with fear at the living blaze. She couldn't even cry out!
Luna growled and hissed angrily at the speaking flame. Ready to defend Sophie should that creature in the fireplace try anything.
"Be quiet you little fur ball I wasn't talking to you. So the little mermaid is speechless is she. Well maybe when she can speak again she can tell me what she's doing here."
" And maybe you can tell me what you are." Sophie's shock wore off quickly at the fires insults.
" I am a powerful fire demon called Calcifer" replied the demon in roar of smoke and ash. "Now are you going to tell me who you are or am I just going to throw you out into the storm."
Not wanting the second option to happen. Sophie told him who she was and about her encounter with the witch.
Calcifer laughed and snorted when she told him about the surprise she gave the witch in the hat shop. "Well its about time someone gave that old hag a trashing, I've never known anyone with the guts to do it though."
Sophie smiled softly at the first real compliment she received in a long time. "Thank you." "So, Calcifer, will you let us stay here?"
"Maybe I will maybe I won 't. I'll tell you what, the wizard Howl that owns this castle has me under a spell that forces me to do his bidding and I am sick of being his slave. If you can find a way to break it I'll keep you and you secret safe here."
Sophie was skeptical "I don't know, if you're a demon how do I know I can trust you. You promise to help me if I help you?"
"Hey come on. That blasted spell keeps me trapped here. I can't do anything on my own without that selfish Howl telling me what to do and how to do it. Move the castle 50 miles to west blah blah. Make hot water for my bath blah."
Sophie chuckled softly through Calcifer's ranting. It probably won't hurt to try, and she supposed taking her chances here were better then taking her chances out in the empty wastelands. At least in a moving castle it was less likely that the witch would find her.
"Sounds rough, alright its a deal." With that being said she took a last look at Luna who fell asleep in her arms. Seeing that she was sleeping peacefully, Sophie at last closed her eyes and pretended to dream.